Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1887-02-03
A PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Of the Collins Bill and the Va
r1ous Railroad and Eleva-
tor Matters of the
Territory.
Northern Pacific and Manitoba Of
fcials and Numerous Private
Citizens Present Their
Views.
Considering the Collins Bill.


Bismarck Tribune: A meeting Of the
committee on railroads of the council was
held at the Sheridan house last evening,
to which the public were invited for the
purpose Of expressing opinions upon
council bill No. 6, fam,Iiarly known as
the Collins railroad bill. There were
nearly one hundred persons present, who
listened atttentlvely to the opinions ad-
vanced.
Mr.. Collins presided. F. H. Reming-
ton, of Valley City, spoke in behalf OF
the Farmers Alliance of Barnes county.
He said the farmers opposed the bill be-
cause It repealed the chapter Of the laws
of 1885 creating board of railroad com.
missloners, and did not replace some Of
the vital provisions of 1t.
Mr. Root, of Valley City, was not a
member Of the Farmers Alliance. He
felt the prese Mt law was very good one,
and ought not to be repealed or modified
to any great extent. There ware two or
three little things that might be i'm
proved.
Tom Elliott said the railroad men had
said VI the farmers had grievances, they
were not aware of 1t. Smith, of the
Manitoba road, says they sympathze with
the farmers. He wanted 10 know how
far this sympathy was 70 extend-to les
sening of rates for farmers? Ii they didn't
promise to act, he thought the legisla-
ture should pass laws, If possible, to OBJ
l'ge them to doso.
Mr.. Smith SAID it was not pertinent to
the question under consideration,
but the past showed the roads were as
much Interested IN the advancement Of
the territory as anyone. Had no reduc-
lions been made by their road since 1881, E,
it would be SIT 1000, 900 better off today.
Mr.. Elliott asked why The Northern Pa
cifc would not allow any man to erect
warehouse on its line.
Mr.. Oakes said such was not the case.
Sometimes they didn't have the location
to give and sometimes the people of the
locality petltioned against 1t so strongly
that they were convinced 1t would be an
injury to allow it. AS to the law,
the railroad did not want a change
and the testimony was the people were
satisfied. So far as the Northern Pacific
was concerned they were perfectly willing
the Collins bill should be adopted but
would like rest. It hsd no desire to
oppose anything that would
ASSIST THE PEOPLE ALONG IT'S LINE.
If 1t had done wrong, it was always viii
ling to rect'fy it. The simplest way, how.
ever, was if the present law needed modl-
ticatlon to change.
G. w. Butz, of Lisbon, said he could
get a higher grade on his wheat at the
elevator than at Duluth. He had shipped
As, 900 bushels in the last three years anu
never had any trouble to get cars.
Councilman Sheldon, of Day, said if
the people of central Dakota had such a
condition of things as exist along the
Northern Pacific and Manitoba roads,
they would be perfectly satisfied, Their
trouble, was with the elevators and not
the railroad. He put 2,sl4. bushels of
wheat IN an elevator last April and he
could not get any out if he wanted 1t.
The only remedy they asked the legisla-
tule to provide was to compel the rails
roads 10 allow them to l)cate their own
ware 0'usCs.
Councilman Welscr had suffered grew
ances since the present law passed, but
attributed 1t to the fact that he had to
deal with subordinate officials.
THE FREIGHT RATES
had been 4 or cents more than they
ought to be this year.
W. M Evans, of Mllbank, SAID the pro-
vision tnat road should not charge more
for short haul than for long one, would
effect but few pl .ces in Dakota. Mr..
Clough, Northern Pacific attorney
showed the freight rate per ton per mile
IN Dakota was less than in Minnesota
If Bismarck paid Moorhead rates pro
rata, freight would be nearly 40 cents a
hundred where now 1t is only thirty.
f. E. Jones, of jamestown, said that
there was very little complaint Of the
railroads III Stutsman county under the
present law.
President Loucks, of the Farmers AL.
lance, was much pleased with the re-
marks of the railroad officials. He had
always felt if approached with business
like proposition they would meet it fairly.
The reason why more complaints were not
made to the commissioners was that they
had reported it was impossible to enforce
the power granted them.
BISMARCK, Feb, l.-Governor Pierce
seeing that the delay in the confirmation
of Judge Church was seriously interfer
ing with his private business arrange.
mepts and becoming constant source o
embarrassment, today cent his resign atior
10 the legislature, which was accepted
Secretary Mccormack is now acting
governor aud will remain so udtll the
confirmation OF Governor Church by the
senate committee, or definite action Is re-
portsd.